First, I grew up with the Cato brand, as it’s a familiar name in Texas. I was thrilled to see the company expanding its reach, especially in the accessories market.

Second, if you feel like you’re having a bit of deja vu, it is because Versona bears some striking similarities to Charming Charlie, another women’s accessories retail giant. Purses, jewelry and clothing are meticulously color-coordinated so that fashionistas can efficiently identify what accessories to shop and purchase.

Third, direct retail competitors trend more toward teens and pre-teens, and while Versona Accessories has something for every age, what sets it apart is that its target demographic focuses mostly on women 18 years and up. Upon asking a store associate whether she was concerned about competition from similar retailers like H&M, Forever 21 and Charming Charlie, her reply was a confident “No.” She explained, “Wherever we decide to open a location, we do very well in that market.”

And I can see why Versona would do well: the selection is eclectic, the price points are incredibly reasonable ($5-$50) and the sales are unbelievable. I found accessories for as low as $1.99! And, yes, they were cute accessories! So while I do love the stores mentioned in this post, I will be adding Versona Accessories to my personal list of favorite stores. Versona will be expanding throughout Texas (the San Antonio location opens in June) so feel free to check here for a location near you!